Windshield Repair Forum

This is not a another to drill or not drill debate. Instead I am curious to hear from new and seasoned technicians alike what your main concern or unknown variable is when performing the drilling process for the purpose of creating an anchor, cleat bullseye etc, etc...

To me there is one paticular unknown variable each one of face everytime single time we drill that plays a critical part in the process. My logic may be skewed since I rarely drill so I will wait to see how others feel.

Thanks for your input.

I've been drilling and popping batwings and starbreaks with multiple legs. For me it seems to open the flow more. So instead of wasting the time trying to get those things to fill, many times I'll just drill and pop before setting the bridge on. The exceptions are If the batwing is closer to the surface or if the starbreak is already a combination or there is just a couple legs. Also on the starbreaks sometimes by popping it seems to alleviate the need for extra pressure on hard to fill legs. 'Course that could just be my imagination.

Sorry, if I was unclear, I was not looking for the benefits from drilling but rather the concerns we face during the drilling process.

You mean concerns like; more scarring once drilled the glass (due to the shaft you create, the repair will be more noticeable), the concern that the burr may break while drilling (may happen), the concern that the damage may spread (crack out) or the concern that a glass fragment (around the cone) may come loose?

I dont like to drill not a big believer in doing more damage to repair a already damaged glass
I am always worried about making a bigger divot on the outside and of course the fact that often the damn thing might spread when you put pressure on the drill I used to drill everything now very seldom

My one concern is....using my drill just after putting in a new bit and drilling into the inner layer.

Dave M wrote:My one concern is....using my drill just after putting in a new bit and drilling into the inner layer.

So it is a depth concern you speak of. Correct?

I agree with Dave M, the concern is not to damage the interlayer. Glass thickness will vary from say a commercial screen/windshield to a standard car screen/windshield. You have to be extremely careful when drilling deep into the glass. I prefer to use it as a last resort, although some repairers use it to clean the loose debris out the impact area which is fine.

Yes, depth concern would be correct. Working on a warm or hot windshield with new burr (prior to coolong off w/s) on let's say a Subaru. The 2nd slight push with the drill and.......ooops, into the pvb. Yes, I am guilty as charged!

Is it possible for the ground glass from the drill bit to get into the unrepaired damage and block resin from entering star legs or any other part of the break?

Can your drill bit get hot enough to melt glass and seal off parts of the damage?